People could be issued with fines under plans to stop organised car meets in parts of Netherfield and Colwick which some residents say has been making life "a living hell." Police have issued several warnings in recent months amid several reports of cars and motorbikes revving their engines and racing each other around the Colwick Loop Road, Mile End Road and the Victoria Retail Park.
Cars have been seized in recent months as some residents complained of not being able to get to sleep. The leader of Gedling Borough Council even suggested at one stage that old airfields could be used as an alternative venue by nuisance racers.
But new plans due to be discussed by the council would see all those taking part in 'car cruise events', including spectators and passengers, potentially being fined up to £100. If approved by councillors, a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) enforcing the fine would come into effect on June 23 for three years.
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A report to be presented to councillors says: "Since the area has been developed with the new Gedling Access Road and improvement to the Colwick Loop Road, the council have seen a further increase of incidents of car cruising and related problems. Residents report large volumes of vehicles driving specifically to the area, driving in convoy, parking up, revving engines, playing loud music and driving in a dangerous manner.
"A variety of tactics are being used by the Nottinghamshire Police and Gedling Borough Council to try and stop the nuisance which is proving to be very staff intensive." Nottinghamshire Police introduced a dedicated operation to tackle the issue, dubbed Operation Triplefin, which saw 11 drivers being reported for traffic offences and four cars being seized between November and February.
Gedling Borough Council has recently installed a CCTV camera on the Colwick Loop Road near Sainsbury's, whilst four ANPR cameras were also recently installed on the road. But the council says introducing a PSPO would "improve the quality of lives and safety for local residents."
A PSPO was previously in place between January 2018 and January 2021, with car cruise events having attracted up to 100 vehicles at one stage before this first one was introduced. A short consultation has already been carried out on the new plans, with several residents writing in support.
One wrote: "Over the last eight years, the situation has become a living hell and unbearable to the point where we will be selling our house in the summer. We have spent considerable time and money modernising our home as we thought we would be living here for the rest of our lives but that is no longer possible.
"Our road is used as a race track every single night of the week and has become far too dangerous to even consider walking into the village with our grandchildren. These cars and bikes are travelling well over 100mph at times in a 40mph zone which is unacceptable and it is only a matter of time before there are fatalities."
Another said: "Night after night we hear the racers accelerating loudly. I have occasionally seen them too, and their style of driving looks very unsafe, as well as noisy and dangerous for the environment and wildlife. Mainly, I am worried that if this continues, there will be serious accidents."
Nottinghamshire Live previously reported that the council were drawing up the PSPO in February, with many in Colwick backing the idea. Now that details have been finalised, councillors will have the opportunity to back the plans at a meeting on June 8.
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